Montoya’s return to IndyCar slowly coming along

Working in Montoya’s favor is additional test days granted by IndyCar after Team Penske requested the track time from President of Competition Derrick Walker.

Walker called the extra track time a refresher for the 1999 CART champion and 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner.

“When he first came on the horizon, the team asked, ‘Could we get some extra days to help give him time?’” Walker said. “We just looked at it and said, ‘It’s great to have him back, and really it’s about what goes on in the races.’ So we gave him a little extra to get tuned up. It’s not easy to step out of IndyCar, come back, familiarize yourself that well with it all.

“I think it’s all about the fans, helping him get back in the saddle.”

Montoya knows there are expectations on him to be good right away, and to dominate the series the way he did in 1999 and when he won the Indy 500.

He said he will be the only one to put pressure on himself.

“I don’t care what the outside thinks. I really don’t,” he said. “I put enough pressure on myself to perform and do whatever it takes to get it done. I probably put more pressure on myself than anybody else. You know me, I never really care what people think of me. I care what I think of me. I know when I do a good job and a bad job.”